[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
- CLASHES IN KABUL’S 6TH POLICE DISTRICT – Explosions and gunfire were reported in Police District 6 of Kabul as Taliban forces fought with suspected ISIS-K terrorists. No reports of casualties have been received yet but the fighting lasted for over an hour and the Taliban have sealed the area off completely. Uncharacteristically, the Taliban have not made an announcement about the operation which suggests the ISIS-K cell may have initiated the fighting. Previous reporting (January 19th) had indicated that search operations had been reported in the neighborhood over the days leading up to the clash. No further information was available.
- THE PASSPORT DIRECTORATE ANNOUNCED THE RESUMPTION OF OPERATIONS – A spokesman for the Passport Directorate announced that a full resumption of the application and issuance process had started yesterday. While we have only confirmed offices open in 7 Provinces, it is believed that all will soon begin working on the backlog.
- INTERNATIONAL NGO REPRESENTATIVES CONCERNED THE WFP WILL COMPLY WITH TALIBAN DEMANDS – A US-based journal, Foreign Policy, has spoken with several of the leaders of humanitarian aid-focused NGOs that were operating in Afghanistan and they voiced concerns about a possible decision from the World Food Programme to force female aid workers to abide by Taliban dress codes. The chief complaint is that female workers will be demoralized by any forthcoming decision and may decide to abstain from work in protest.
CONFLICT TRACKER
Kabul: Taliban security forces engaged suspected ISIS-K militants in Police District 6 of Kabul. Explosions and heavy weapons were used in the fighting, No information about the clash has been released, and the area has been sealed shut by the Taliban.
NEXT 24 HOURS
- FURTHER CLEARING OPERATIONS POSSIBLE IN KABUL – Due to the significant Taliban activity in the aftermath of fighting that erupted in Police District 6, at-risk Afghans are likely to see additional clearing operations in the city over the coming days. A source with the Police said that significant intelligence was gathered from the location of the fighting that has identified a second group in Kabul.
- ADDITIONAL FORCES BEING SENT TO TAKHAR – A convoy of military vehicles is expected to depart for Takhar after officials there claimed that more NRF forces were in and around the city than had previously been thought. Approximately 20 trucks are expected to depart with an unknown number of Taliban security forces personnel aboard.
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